---
title: 'Daniel Baker on Why Presbyterians Baptize Infants'
type: post
author: 'Caleb Cangelosi'
date: 2021-10-10
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2021-daniel-baker-on-why-presbyterians-baptize-infants
---

# Daniel Baker on Why Presbyterians Baptize Infants

“Unquestionably *adults,* upon a credible profession of their faith in Christ, having never been previously baptized, are proper subjects of this ordinance. Thus far we agree precisely with those who hold to what is usually denominated “believers’ baptism.” But we further believe, that the *infants* of such as are members of the visible church are also to be baptized. Our argument is this: Infant membership formed a part of the original constitution of the visible Church of God. Infant membership has never been abolished, and therefore infants have a right to membership still. Baptism has taken the place of the ancient initiatory or recognizing ordinance, and therefore infants are to be baptized. This is the ground which we take.”

— Daniel Baker, [*A Plain and Scriptural View of Baptism*](/authors/daniel-baker) (1853), p. 8